by Gareth Otton
“Of course, but… Do you even want that?”
“Why wouldn’t I?” Tad asked.
“Well… Do you want to give the same people who suggested that new law the ability to trap you whenever they needed? I mean, what if they decide to round you up and lock you away?”
“Hang on,” Thomas protested. “Don’t confuse an overreaction and evil intent. I’m sure if we give people the right means to deal with dreamwalkers, they’ll be sensible.”
“Will they? Fear does crazy things to people. Think of how ghosts are treated,” Tony said, suddenly serious. He had adopted Amber’s cause, and it was the one topic he had no humour for.
“You can’t assign the actions of a few people in one scenario to prove a point in another. That’s not how—”
“Everyone calm down,” Tad said, heading off the argument. “There are valid points all around, but I think the answer is simple enough. Mitena, let’s work with prisons to get them equipped for dreamwalkers. People will feel safer if we can prove dreamwalkers are not above the law, and hopefully that will take the wind from the sails of this bill. We’ll discuss any abuse of that system if it ever happens.”
“That sort of thinking is a losing strategy in the long run,” Rodney pointed out. “If you only deal with the current threat, you’re always reacting and never in control. You need to think ten moves ahead if you want to come out on top.”
Rubbing his aching temples, Tad said, “Then we share what we know with prisons and prepare for the fallout of what might happen should someone abuse these dreamcatchers.”
In response, Thomas, Tony and Amber spoke up at the same time. They each stopped when they realised they were talking over each other, then did the same thing again. The noise only made Tad’s head throb, and he was about to tell them to shut up when he was saved by a hand on his arm.
“Can I have a word?” Lizzie asked.
Seeking an escape, Tad followed her toward a quiet corner of her studio.
“That was a disaster,” she said when she had him alone. “I’ve been talking with Ben and we’re not sure how much of that interview we can use.”
Tad looked at the editing bench where Ben, Lizzie’s newest recruit, was looking at a monitor and frowning.
“I can’t do it again, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“No, I don’t think any of us are in a good place for that right now. I think we’ll edit the interview to just the part about the dreamcatchers, and we’re going to leave off the discussion of the bill. I’ll catch some flack for it in the comments, but these days I’m always getting grief from someone down there, so what’s new.”
Understanding Lizzie’s industry more than he ever wanted to since the Merging, Tad realised how huge her offer was. That interview was an absolute disaster for him, but it would be ratings gold for her. The scoop that The Dreamwalker had dropped the ball and let this slip by him was something any other reporter would kill for.
“Thanks Lizzie, I appreciate that.”
Lizzie nodded and bit her lip as she built the courage to say what was truly on her mind.
“Listen, Tad. Don’t take this the wrong way, but you need to get your act together.”
Tad laughed.
“How could I take that the wrong way?” he deadpanned.
“I’m serious. It’s more than just not knowing about the bill, it’s everything. The way you dealt with that nightmare was so casual it was scary. It looked like you didn’t care. Then, when something doesn’t go your way, you snap and get angry. It makes you look cold one minute and unstable the next. That’s not something people want to worry about with you. You’re far too dangerous for people to think you’re losing your mind.”
“People think I’m losing my mind?”
“Some do. I wanted Ben to talk to you about the edits, but he refused. Now, I know that no one ever needs to fear you losing it. But that’s because I know you as a person and I know the stress you’re under with Jen. But the rest of the world doesn’t see that, and they’re always watching. You can’t slip up for a second.”
Before Tad could stop himself, he was rubbing his temples again.
“I could do without this,” he muttered.
“That’s what I’m talking about. People can’t see you like this. It will have them scared. Please, just think about it.”
“I will,” he promised.
“Do you want to come back later to see the final edit?”
Tad shook his head. Once he might have insisted on that, but those days were behind him. “No, I trust you. And thanks for being honest about this, it means a lot. I’m sorry if I got mad at you.”
She brightened a little at his trust, but only said, “Next time you shout at me, I’m telling Stella.”
Tad winced. “I shouted?”
Lizzie positioned her finger and thumb an inch a part. “Maybe just a little,” she said, before smiling to show there were no bad feelings.
“Sorry, won’t happen again, I promise.”
Lizzie smiled, then hugged him. It surprised him as he wasn’t a hugger, but he couldn’t deny that the friendly touch was appreciated right then.
“Now, get that rabble out of my studio so I can get back to work,” she said. “I’ve got a story I need to chase down.”
Tad looked over his shoulder to where his ghosts and Mitena were in a noisy conversation, and he smiled. For all that the conversation was getting heated, Tad could see there was no real animosity. It reminded him of the squabbles between Tony, Miriam and Charles... It reminded him of family.
“Yeah, that’s a good idea,” he said. “What story are you chasing down? Anything interesting?”
“You know that homeless shelter for ghosts that Stella’s friend set up?” she asked. Tad didn’t, but couldn’t bear letting her down again, so he nodded like he knew what she was talking about. “Well, there are rumours of some trouble brewing, something about the ghosts not playing nice together. I wanted to check it out.”
Tad frowned, not liking the idea of ghosts causing trouble. Something about the thought made the Proxy side of his abilities tingle like this was something he should look into. However, he had more than enough on his plate and couldn’t afford to take the time.
“Alright. If you find anything I should know about, call me. Ghosts were my speciality long before all this.”
Lizzie fished out her phone and waved it at him. “Tad, you’ve been number one on my speed dial ever since the Merging… Well, ever since you came to your senses and gave me your number. Trust me, I’ll call if there’s anything worth calling about.” She made a point of looking at the time on her phone and stepped back. “I need to go. Get them out of here, please. That argument is not good for productivity and my people have work to do.”
“Go, I’ve got them,” Tad said before he waved goodbye and went over to interrupt his ghosts.
“I’m just saying, there’s a lot of money to be made from dreamcatchers. We can still give away the ones that keep people safe, but that doesn’t mean we have to give everything away,” Tony was saying to the group. “Think about it. Mitena could design a new dreamcatcher, Tad could use his contacts to get them made, and we could sell them to the world and make some serious profit.”
“But anyone can make dreamcatchers if they take the time to learn,” Amber pointed out.
“Not as well as she can,” Tony said, pointing at Mitena who was listening but not participating. “Nor as professionally as we can get them manufactured. With everything we’ve learnt about how to make dreamcatchers and with Mitena’s designs, we could all be millionaires in no time.”
“What’s going on?” Tad asked.
“Your ghost is trying to profiteer off a crisis,” Thomas said.
“I’m just saying we don’t need to give away every dreamcatcher. They can do cool things that go beyond public safety. Why not earn a bit of cash on the side? We could even start a dreamcatcher tattoo business with Tad ferrying people to Drea
m so we can give people super powers. Forget millionaires, we could be billionaires with that kind of scheme.”
“If you make any money off this in the current political climate, it will look like you’re profiteering,” Thomas insisted. Seeing that Tony was getting angry enough to start another argument, Tad stepped in.
“Alright, that’s food for thought. I don’t know about you all, but I’ve had enough for one day. Let’s get out of here.”
He got a variety of reactions from his suggestion, the most pronounced of which was from Mitena. Her face twisted into a grimace as this meant she was going back to prison, but she didn’t complain. Tad doubted he needed Rodney to keep an eye on her, but it was a condition they forced him to agree to when he started borrowing her. She was far too useful to be locked up constantly, but she was also far too dangerous to risk losing.
An array of faces flashed through his mind, all of them dead thanks to her, and his misgivings about returning her to prison vanished. It didn’t matter how much he liked her, he’d never forget what she did.
“Join up,” Tad said. One by one, everyone grabbed the person standing next to them until they formed an unbroken chain. Tad noted Tony grabbing Amber’s hand pretty fast, but said nothing as he reached for Dream and changed the channel.
Half an hour later, he made his last jump of the day after dropping Tony and Amber off with Tony’s parents. He returned home with Growler one step behind him. For a full minute he just stood in his living room, knowing there were a thousand things to do, but liking the look of his sofa even more. However, if he sat down even for a moment, he wouldn’t get up again for the rest of the night.
He needed to read up on this bill, catch up with his solicitors, and it wouldn’t be a bad idea to check in with Stella at the DTHQ, as she had taken to calling the Dream Team Headquarters. The more he thought about it, the more he realised that those were just the top three things on a much larger list. He needed to write them down to ensure…
Thump.
Tad looked up, startled, as he heard the bang from upstairs. It was a testament to how tired he was that it took Growler’s growl to remind him he should be alone. With all his ghosts back home and Stella at work, this couldn’t be anything good.
Tiredness forgotten, Tad shared a silent look with his dog and prepared for the worst.
3
Wednesday, 16th November 2016
17:39
At six-months-old, Growler was as tall as a Great Dane with the stocky build of a Rottweiler. Tad was sure his giant size was Dream related as no dog should grow so fast, but whatever the case, he long since had the mass to back up his terrifying growl.
However, that growl died away and rather than a mean attack dog, Tad found an oversized puppy who’s tail wagged excitedly.
Before he could question the change, Growler shot past him, taking the stairs four at a time and turning the corner at the top before Tad reached the bottom step. An enormous bang meant Growler hadn’t bothered waiting for Tad to open the next door, and by the time Tad reached the landing he heard the scrabbling of pawed feet and the thumping of a tail colliding with things. But there was another sound that put thoughts of potential damage from his mind; the giggle of a teenage girl.
The first thing Tad noticed when he reached Jen’s room was the writhing mass of copper hair, pink skin and glossy, grey fur that covered Jen’s bed. Growler and Hawk overpowered Jen and pinned her to the bed as they fought to cover her face with dog saliva.
Jen’s gasping giggles froze Tad on the spot.
Hawk looked up as he noticed Tad’s arrival. A tuft of fur between his alert ears had grown long and stood up straight, creating the mohawk that had earned him his name. Strangely, it suited the dog.
Tad didn’t have long to study it before Hawk bounded off the bed to say hello. He jumped as he arrived, his forepaws colliding with Tad’s chest with enough force to nearly knock him off his feet. Tad grunted and laughed at the same time. It didn’t occur to him until now just how much he had missed this not-so-little guy.
It took a minute to satisfy Hawk’s need for attention, and when Tad looked up, he found wide, hazel eyes studying him and filling with tears.
“Jen. What are you—” was all he managed before the air was knocked from his lungs by a thirteen-year-old girl who struck harder than her giant dog. Tad staggered back as Jen’s boa-constrictor grip crushed his ribs and her tears soaked his shirt. He decided that words could wait as Tad did what he had been dying to do for months and hugged his daughter in the real world.
They met almost nightly in their dreams, but it wasn’t the same. Dream when visited while sleeping had an ephemeral quality that didn’t last. Things never felt real, and memories were quicker to fade upon waking. It was a terrible substitute for the simple pleasure of hugging his daughter in real life.
“What are you doing here?” he whispered, but before she had chance to answer he couldn’t help but add. “It’s so good to see you.”
Jen stepped away and wiped her tear-stained eyes.
“I missed you dad,” she said. “I just… I wanted to be home… Just a little while. I… I missed my room and…”
Her words trailed off as her voice wobbled. Tad had to fight down his own tears, creating a large lump in his throat that was painful to swallow.
“I missed you too. This place is just way too quiet without you and Tony arguing all the time. You can’t be here though. If anyone finds out about this then—”
“It’s only for a little while. Stupid John and Jean won’t even know, I promise.”
“You shouldn’t call them that.”
“Well, they’re idiots. They don’t know anything about Dream, they haven’t let me see Dr Burman, and they’re always so strict about every little thing. I hate them.”
“Things will only get harder if you don’t at least try to get along.”
“I wouldn’t need to get along with them if they’d just let me come home. But no one listens. I’ve told that stupid lady from Social so many times that I want to be here. I even told her everything about what happened with mum and dad and how they wanted me to stay with you, but she just ignores me. She doesn’t even pretend to write anything on that stupid clipboard.”
Jen’s aura flared with her customary red light, the sight so familiar it was a joy to see. However, that red soon blanched into a fearful white.
“Can I please stay? Just a little while?” she asked. “I promise I’ll go back before they notice I’m gone, I just want to be home for a bit. Please, dad.”
The lump returned to his throat, three times larger and three times harder to swallow. With all his effort devoted to that, he had no willpower left to send her away. Instead he stepped further into her room and sat on her desk chair while Jen sank onto the bed where she was instantly covered by two furry lumps.
“Is there any news from the Three Amigos?” she asked, referring to the trio of solicitors Tad worked with on her case.
“Nothing new.”
“Why are they taking so long? I’ve been gone forever. It’s nearly Christmas already.”
“I know. I thought we’d have this sorted long before now. But we can’t give in. We have to play this out the right way or we’ll be in serious trouble. The Three Amigos are clever people, they’ll figure something out, I promise.”
“You promised it wouldn’t be long months ago,” Jen said, driving a dagger through his heart.
“I know, and you’ve been so strong. I’m proud of you. But we need to be strong a little longer.” Determined to give her some good news, he added, “Lizzie’s been working hard to get her viewers on our side. Have you been watching?” Jen nodded. “So you know we have public support. That’s the sort of pressure people in power listen to. Trust me, things will work out, you’ll see.”
He tried to sound confident, but whether he believed it, he couldn’t say. Lizzie did her best, and he’d seen a dramatic turn in public opinion from when this first broke
into the news cycle. The worry was that he just didn’t know how much good it would do. It didn’t change the law.
The thought of the law reminded him of the bill waiting to be passed and a fresh worry struck. If they were that willing to trample on dreamwalker rights, what would that mean for him now? Thanks to the Prime Minister pulling strings and his continued service to the country, no legal action had been taken against him beyond removing Jen from his custody. Would that change if this bill passed?
Before his thoughts could spiral down another dark path, Jen’s phone buzzed in her pocket. Despite the high emotion in the room, Jen would be a disgrace to teenagers the world over if she ignored her phone for five minutes, so of course she fished it out.
Tad glanced at the screen before Jen angled it away, smiled a strange little smile, and tapped out a response. Tad frowned.
“Who’s Robert?” he asked, sure he’d heard the name before. “Wait, wasn’t that the boy you wanted to invite to your birthday party?”
Jen blushed, her aura flaring pink with embarrassment before she clamped down on it and shook her head.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she lied, stuffing the phone back in her pocket. It buzzed again and Jen twitched like she would reach for it, but her aura flared pink and she made a visible effort to ignore it.
“Who’s Robert?” Tad asked again, even more interested.
“No one important,” Jen said. He wondered if it drove Stella this crazy when someone was lying. Knowing her, she’d have some detective trick to coax the information from Jen. Tad didn’t have those skills, so he forced himself to change the topic.
“How’s school? Are the ghosts fitting in?”
Jen rolled her eyes and sighed like the weight of the world was on her shoulders.
“They’re a pain. Tony keeps telling them to come to me if they have a problem.”